NJ man arrested for poaching deer, assault

HONESDALE- Janine Edwards, Wayne County District Attorney, on Jan. 31 announced the arrest of Mark Nicholas Jarema, age 38, of Leesburg, New Jersey for several weapons related Felonies.

Jarema was extradited on January 28 to Wayne County to face charges of Aggravated Assault, Person Not to Possess a Firearm (2 counts), Unlawful Killing or Taking of Big Game (28 Counts), False Imprisonment, Terroristic Threats and Carrying a Loaded Rifle in a vehicle.

The Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer Frank J. Dooley, alleges that Jarema was shooting deer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to sell to various restaurants in New Jersey.

On the night of October 23, 2010, Jarema used a 30-06 rifle and a spotlight to hunt deer from a vehicle in Clinton and Mt. Pleasant Townships. Jarema forced a female companion, at gunpoint and with threats, to drive while he shot or attempted to shoot 30 deer from the vehicle. Jarema fired the rifle next to the face of the female driver and used the female driver’s head as a gun rest to steady the rifle. During early morning hours of October 24, 2010, Jarema processed many of the slain deer at the home of the female driver, then the processed deer meat was transported to two restaurants in New Jersey.

Jerema is and was a person not allowed to possess a firearm under Pennsylvania law. District Magistrate Ronald Edwards set Jarema’s bail at $50,000.00.

Jarema is scheduled for an initial Central Court appearance at the Wayne County Courthouse on February 6, 2013.

Jarema is charged with 26 Felonies related to the killing or attempting to kill the deer from the roadway. An amendment to the Game and Wildlife Code, effective September 10, 2010, makes it a Felony to illegally kill or attempt to kill multiple big game during the same criminal episode.